Respect the Tourney

I'm under 30 years old so stop me if I sound as old and cranky as Billy Packer or our own Jack Minogue, but I just don't get how people's lives don't stop around the NCAA Tournament.

Is there anything better? I mean, Kobe Bryant tried his best to steal some thunder by hanging 65 points on the Trail Blazers, but who cares about the NBA right now?

Here's what I want during this week: my brackets, a triple bacon cheeseburger (with extra cheese), curly fries, a big bag of sour cream and onion potato chips, a six pack (of soda, of course) and my big reclining chair that has the shape of my tailbone pressed into it.

That and quiet (except for announcers, except for Billy Packer).

And I have a simple request for some nameless people out there who don't respect the Tourney: respect the Tourney.

No weddings (sister), no tuxedo fittings (Ricky, a former friend of mine), no doctor's appointments (brother), work (sports editor), trips to the zoo, walks in the park or general events of any kind. Although, I have to say, of everyone, I'm least upset with the boss, because at least we have a TV in the newsroom.

The point is -- and this may be Peter Gibbons-esque -- nothing beats sitting around doing nothing and watching the first two rounds of March Madness. And I've caught more of the dance at work than I have at home and it can't be that way.

So please, everybody get with it. It's late March.

Oh, today's St. Patrick's Day? Who knew?

-- What was Louisville's Edgar Sosa

Associated PressWhat was Louisville's Edgar Sosa thinking when he chucked up that 33-footer against Texas A&M?

thinking? Wow. A 33-footer with the game on the line a still about seven ticks left on the clock against Texas A & M? Two words: "sane" and "in" (not necessarily in that order). You've probably heard this one before, but the best part about freshmen is their sophomore year.

-- Although, maybe Sosa was trying to be like Ohio State's Ron Lewis (I've heard so much about Oden and Conley Jr. that I figured The Ohio State U. played two-on-five, like two adults against five little kids). Lewis saved the Buckeyes with a capital "S" with a three at the end of regulation. The lesson for all you aspiring shooters out there: sometimes the difference between a good shot and a bad one is if it goes in.

More games to come. Enjoy 'em people. I'll probably be otherwise engaged.